Boat trailers

ABSTRACT

A relatively flat chassis frame having two elongated, parallel side elements supported on wheels at their rear extremities and separated from each other at their forward extremities to provide an open forward boat-launching channel between the side elements at the front of the chassis frame. Arcuate bow elements extend forwardly from the side elements and extend inwardly to detachably join each other forwardly of the launching channel to provide means for towing the chassis frame. The open launching channel being provided with removable means for supporting a boat therein for transportation purposes.

0 United States Patent 1 [In 3,717,356 Haberthier 1 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] BOAT TRAILERS Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia [76] Inventor: Wilbert L. Haberthier, 598 Main Atmmey' R' Galbreath St., Limon, Colo. 80828 [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: April 5, 1971 A relatively flat chassis frame having two elongated, [21] PP- NOJ 130,955 parallel side elements supported on wheels at their rear extremities and separated from each other at [52] US. Cl. ..280/414 R heir forward extremities to provide an open forward [51] Int. Cl. ..B60p 3/10 boat-launching channel between the side elements at [58] Field of Search ..280/414 R the front of the chassis frame. Arcuate bow elements extend forwardly from the side elements and extend [56] e nces Cited inwardly to detachably join each other forwardly of UNITED STATES PATENTS the launching channel to provide means for towing the chassis frame. The open launching channel being pro- 3,004,771 10/1961 Moore ..280/4l4RX vided with removable means for supporting a boat 3,044,646 7/1962 SpemW therein for transportation purposes. 2,761,690 9/1956 Bradley ..280/414 R X 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEBZ 01975 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR NEY BOAT TRAILERS This invention relates to a boat trailer of the type to be detachably attached behind a towing vehicle for transporting and launching a boat at desirable water sources. Conventional boat trailers of the drive-on type are usually designed to launch the boat into the water stern first. This has been found to be objectionable since it is exceedingly difficult to initially impel and guide the boat stern first in crowded or surfy areas.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a medial bow channel in the chassis of a boat trailer below the bow of the conveyed boat which can be readily closed to safely and securely support the boat for transportation and which can, when desired, be opened to allow the boat to enter the water bow first.

A further object is to provide a bow-gate structure for the above medial channel which when closed will provide rigid support for towing the boat and which when opened will provide side guides to axially direct the boat bow-first into the water.

A still further object is to provide means for longitudinally adjusting and locking the bow-gate structure at desired forward positions on the chassis so as to accommodate boats of various lengths.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved boat trailer as it would appear in a horizontal or transportation position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the trailer of FIG. 1 showing in solid line the horizontal or transportation position thereof and in broken line a launching position thereof;

FIG. 3 is a detail top view of a removable bow-crosstube to be later described;

FIG. 4 is a detail side view of a removable bow-keeltube to be later described; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail cross section taken on the line 5-5, FIG. 1.

The improved boat trailer employes a flat, tubular chassis frame A" consisting of two, similar, parallel side tubes and 11 having open forward extremities and joined at their rear extremities in substantially U- shaped relation, by means of a rear tube 12. The side tubes 10 and 11 are resiliently supported adjacent their rear extremities from a laterally extending conventional axle 13, provided with conventional ground-engaging wheels 14 and 15, through the medium of suitable conventional springs 16 and 17, respectively.

In applying this invention to the above described chassis frame A," a laterally extending rear cross tube 18 is fixedly extended between the side tubes 10 and 1 1 adjacent the axle l3 and a fixed stern keel tube 19, provided with suitable rear keel rollers 20, is secured between the cross tube 18 and the rear tube 12.

A bent channel-tube 21 is welded or otherwise secured at its extremities to the side tubes 10 and ll edly mounted at the middle of the rear cross tube 18 to support the channel-tube 21 in flaring relation on opposite sides of an open somewhat V-shaped space or launching channel B and in the plane of and between the forward or bow portions of the side tubes 10 and 11. The channel-tube 21 is provided with spaced-apart bottom rollers 24 to be contacted by the bottom of the boat hull to facilitate longitudinal movement of the boat on the chassis.

A removable forward cross tube 25 connects the open forward or bow extremities of the two side tubes 10 and 11. The cross tube 25 is preferably provided with a rearwardly extending dowel pin 26 adjacent each of its extremities which enter the open forward extremities of the side tubes 10 and 11 to detachably maintain the tube 25 in place. The forward cross tube 25 temporarily supports the forward extremity of a removable bow keel tube 27, provided with longitudinally spaced forward keel rollers 31,. in any suitable manner such as through the medium of clevis fittings 28 and a vertical attachment pin 29. The rear extremity of the bow keel tube 27 is provided with an axial dowel pin 30 which is received in a suitable dowel pin hole formed in the loop 23 of the bent channel tube 21 in alignment with the fixed stern keel tube 19 to medially align the removable bow keel tube 27 with the channel B, as shown in FIG. 1.

The forward extremity of the chassis frame A is supported in the horizontal or transportation position by means of two arcuately and inwardly bent, tongue tubes 32 the forward extremities of which are individually attached to a conventional, medially positioned, tow plate 33 of the type provided with a conventional tow ball cap 34, by means of suitable tongue attachment bolts 35. The forward portions of the tongue tubes 32 extend oppositely and arcuately outward from the tow plate 33 and the rear portions of the tongue tubes are straight and extend tangent to the forward portions in parallel relation through spaced-apart, U-shaped retaining sleeves 36 and 37 which are secured to and positioned below the forward extremities of the side tubes 10 and 11 in any desired manner. The straight portions of the tongue tubes 32 are longitudinally and rotatably adjustable in the retaining sleeves 36 and 37 and may be locked in any desired longitudinal and circumferential position in the retaining sleeves by means of suitable set screws 38. This allows the overall length of the chassis frame to be preset to accommodate boats of various length. The forward arcuate portions of the tongue tubes 32 are provided with hull side rollers 39 which, when the trailer is in the solid line transportation position of FIG. 1, are positioned below the tongue tubes 32 in parallel relation with the rollers 20 and 24 previously described. The rear extremities of the straight portions of the tongue tubes 32 are provided with stop lugs 40 to prevent accidental complete withdrawal from the retaining sleeves 36 and 37.

The chassis frame will be conventionally provided with the usual skid plates possibly positioned as indicated in broken line at 41 and/or with conventional vertical side rollers possibly positioned as indicated in broken line at 42 to prevent sideward movement of a boat hull on the chassis frame. The latter elements are conventional on boat trailers therefore they have been omitted on the drawings to clarify the illustration of the novel structure of the chassis of the present improved trailer.

For launching, the trailer with the boat in place thereon is directed into the water preferably bow first in any desired manner depending upon the profile of the shore and the rigging and equipment available. The forward extremities of the tongue tubes 32 are released from the tow plate 33 and are turned oppositely upward and locked in place by the set screws 38in vertical position, as indicated at C in FIG. 2, and are then dropped into contact with the water bottom to incline the chassis as shown in broken line in FIG. 2, the incline depending upon the steepness of the bottom. In most cases the boat will now be fully or partially afloat. The clevis fitting 28 can now be pulled forwardly, either by hand or by means of an attached rope, to remove the'forward cross tube 25 and the bow keel tube 27 from the chassis and leave the launching channel B wide open so that the boat can be easily urged forwardly in the open channel guided by the hull rollers 39 on the two upwardly extending tongue tubes 32. With many types of motor boats the propeller may be started to provide the power to urge the boat forwardly from the open launching channel. While the present invention is particularly advantageous for bow launching it can of course be also employed for stem launching when required.

While a selected form of the invention has been above described, it is understood that mechanical variations and detail substitutions can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to'be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A boat trailer comprising:

a. a relatively flat boat-supporting chassis frame having two elongated side tubes rigidly connected at their rears in substantially parallel spaced-apart relation by a rear tube so as to extend forwardly in spaced-apart, substantially U-shaped relation to form an open launching channel at the front of said chassis frame;

b. removable boat-supporting means extending between the forward extremities of said side tubes for supporting a boat in said channel for transportation purposes; and

c. tongue elements rotatably mounted in the forward extremities of said side tubes and extending forwardly in a horizontal retaining position across said channel for towing purposes and said tongue elements adapted to be rotated to a vertical guiding position at each side of said channel for launching ofa boat.

.2. A boat trailer as described in claim 1 in which the tongue elements comprise:

a. a retaining sleeve mounted on the forward exc. a tongue tube slidably and rotatably mounted in I each retainin sleeve and extending axially inwar to a connection wit so that said chassis frame may be towed by moving said tow plate forwardly; and V means for locking said tongue tubes in any desired position in said retaining sleeves.

. A boat trailer as described in claim 2 having:

. spaced boat guide rollers on said tongue tubes positioned so that they will engage the bottom of a boat when the tongue tubes are in the horizontal position and sides of said boat when the tongue tubes are in a vertical position.

4. A boat trailer as described in claim 1 in which the removable boat supporting means comprises:

a. a forward cross tube detachably attached to and extending between the forward extremities of said side tubes; and

b. a removable bow keel-tube supported by said cross tube within said launching channel to support a boat in the channel for transportation.

5. A boat trailer as described in claim 4 having:

a. spaced-apart keel rollers mounted on said forward cross tube to portably support the keel of a boat positioned in said channel.

. A boat trailer as described in claim 1 having:

a. a substantially V-shaped bent tube secured at its two extremities to the forward two extremities of said side tubes, the medial portion of said bent forwardly and tube extending rearWardly on opposite sides of the axial center line of said launching'channel; and

b. means supporting the medial portion of said bent tube substantially in the plane of said side tubes.

7. A boat trailer as described in claim 6 having:

a. spaced-apart bottom rollers mounted upon said bent tube, the axes of the latter rollers being positioned at right angles to the axes of said side tubes so as to engage and facilitate axial movement of a boat resting thereon.

8. A boat trailer as described in claim 6 in which the means supporting the medial portion of said bent tube comprises; I

a. a cross tube secured at its extremities to and extending between said side tubes and to which the rearmost medial portion of said bent tube is fixedly mounted.

9. A boat trailer as described in claim 8 having:

a. a stern tube provided with boat engaging rollers extending rearwardly from said cross tube to support the stern of a boat mounted thereon.

said tow plate 

1. A boat trailer comprising: a. a relatively flat boat-supporting chassis frame having two elongated side tubes rigidly connected at their rears in substantially parallel spaced-apart relation by a rear tube so as to extend forwardly in spaced-apart, substantially U-shaped relation to form an open launching channel at the front of said chassis frame; b. removable boat-supporting means extending between the forward extremities of said side tubes for supporting a boat in said channel for transportation purposes; and c. tongue elements rotatably mounted in the forward extremities of said side tubes and extending forwardly in a horizontal retaining position across said channel for towing purposes and said tongue elements adapted to be rotated to a vertical guiding position at each side of said channel for launching of a boat.
 1. A boat trailer comprising: a. a relatively flat boat-supporting chassis frame having two elongated side tubes rigidly connected at their rears in substantially parallel spaced-apart relation by a rear tube so as to extend forwardly in spaced-apart, substantially U-shaped relation to form an open launching channel at the front of said chassis frame; b. removable boat-supporting means extending between the forward extremities of said side tubes for supporting a boat in said channel for transportation purposes; and c. tongue elements rotatably mounted in the forward extremities of said side tubes and extending forwardly in a horizontal retaining position across said channel for towing purposes and said tongue elements adapted to be rotated to a vertical guiding position at each side of said channel for launching of a boat.
 2. A boat trailer as described in claim 1 in which the tongue elements comprise: a. a retaining sleeve mounted on the forward extremity of each side tube; b. a tow plate axially positioned forward of said side tubes; c. a tongue tube slidably and rotatably mounted in each retaining sleeve and extending forwardly and axially inward to a connection with said tow plate so that said chassis frame may be towed by moving said tow plate forwardly; and d. means for locking said tongue tubes in any desired position in said retaining sleeves.
 3. A boat trailer as described in claim 2 having: a. spaced boat guide rollers on said tongue tubes positioned so that they will engage the bottom of a boat when the tongue tubes are in the horizontal position and sides of said boat when the tongue tubes are in a vertical position.
 4. A boat trailer as described in claim 1 in which the removable boat supporting means comprises: a. a forward cross tube detachably attached to and extending between the forward extremities of said side tubes; and b. a removable bow keel-tube supported by said cross tube within said launching channel to support a boat in the channel for transportation.
 5. A boat trailer as described in claim 4 having: a. spaced-apart keel rollers mounted on said forward cross tube to portably support the keel of a boat positioned in said channel.
 6. A boat trailer as described in claim 1 having: a. a substantially V-shaped bent tube secured at its two extremities to the forward two extremities of said side tubes, the medial portion of said beNt tube extending rearWardly on opposite sides of the axial center line of said launching channel; and b. means supporting the medial portion of said bent tube substantially in the plane of said side tubes.
 7. A boat trailer as described in claim 6 having: a. spaced-apart bottom rollers mounted upon said bent tube, the axes of the latter rollers being positioned at right angles to the axes of said side tubes so as to engage and facilitate axial movement of a boat resting thereon.
 8. A boat trailer as described in claim 6 in which the means supporting the medial portion of said bent tube comprises; a. a cross tube secured at its extremities to and extending between said side tubes and to which the rearmost medial portion of said bent tube is fixedly mounted. 